What is Imperial War Museums (IWM)?

Updated

Imperial War Museums (IWM) is a UK museum network that explores conflict from the First World War to the present day. It runs five sites — IWM London, Churchill War Rooms, IWM North in Manchester, HMS Belfast in London, and IWM Duxford — and combines exhibitions and events with archives, an online shop, and a charity model supported by donations, membership, and volunteers. It is the right place to look if you want to plan a visit, research a conflict-related story, or find a specific exhibition or event.

The five IWM sites

Each site has a distinct setting and subject focus, so the choice depends on what you want to see and where you are.

Site Location What it is known for (per IWM)
IWM London London Main museum site; hosts exhibitions such as Childhood in War (31 July 2026 to 28 February 2027)
Churchill War Rooms London Historic wartime site; included in IWM membership benefits
HMS Belfast London Warship site; hosts Pressure: The D-Day Decision (21 August 2026 to 11 April 2027)
IWM North Manchester Regional museum site
IWM Duxford Duxford Airfield site; hosts events such as Fireworks Night (5 November 2026)

If your priority is a particular exhibition, check which site hosts it before planning travel — the D-Day exhibition, for example, is on board HMS Belfast rather than at IWM London.

What you can do through iwm.org.uk

The website is the entry point for both visiting and researching:

  • Plan a visit — browse the "Our Museums" section to compare the five sites.
  • See what's on — exhibitions, tours, talks, and immersive experiences are listed under "What's On," with dates.
  • Explore the archives — IWM describes its collections as a way to "discover real stories of modern war."
  • Shop — the online shop sells books, prints, and gifts inspired by the collections; IWM states every purchase supports the museum.
  • Stay in touch — the newsletter covers collections, exhibitions, stories, and events, and sign-up includes a 10% discount in the IWM shop.

How IWM is funded

IWM describes itself as a charity and states that it needs support to continue telling personal stories of conflict. There are three main ways to contribute:

  • Donations — IWM says donations help it tell stories of those affected by conflict, launch exhibitions, and deliver learning programmes.
  • Membership — IWM lists benefits including free standard admission to Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, and IWM Duxford.
  • Volunteering — IWM says it involves over 1,000 volunteers across its five sites, helping with collections, object care, and visitor experience.

The published material does not state general admission prices for the sites, so check the individual site pages before you travel rather than assuming entry is free or paid.

Choosing whether IWM fits your purpose

  • If you want a day out with a specific theme, start from "What's On" and match the exhibition or event to its site.
  • If you plan to visit Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, or IWM Duxford more than once, compare the cost of membership (which includes free standard admission to those three) against paying per visit — IWM does not publish prices in the material summarised here, so confirm current rates on the site.
  • If you are researching a story or object, go straight to the archives rather than the visit pages.
  • If you want to support the work, donation, membership, and volunteering are the routes IWM itself describes.